Single mother goes on Christmas strike and refuses to cook for her family because they 'don't help'
- The British woman told Mumsnet that she was 'exhausted' from the ordeal
- READ MORE: Why I'm CHARGING my family for Christmas dinner for the sixth year in a row... and I make sure the money is in my account by December 1
A single mother's post about her why she's refusing to host Christmas dinner - and 'quietly' spend the Yuletide by herself - has sparked online debate.
One woman divided the internet after she complained of her demanding family's expectations, from 'constant' tea refills to 'exhausting' cooking chores without any help.
The Mumsnet user shared her dilemma in a post on the British parenting platform, with some questioning why she was so upset with her loved ones.
The post was titled 'Refusing to cook Christmas dinner' and read: 'I'm a single parent and have been cooking Christmas dinner for family for a few years now but I'm finding it exhausting.'
The UK-based mother noted that being the only person responsible for putting together the festive feast left her too tired to spend time with her two-year-old son - and her grown-up daughter does not make life easier either.
'I'm feeling I'm losing precious time with my little one as I'm too busy to spend any time with him,' she continued.
Ultimately, she decided against hosting Christmas dinner this year and told her family members she wanted to spend the festival with her son.
However, their reactions left her disappointed after not one person offered to help.
A British woman's social media post about uninviting her family for Christmas dinner has gone viral on British parenting platform Mumsnet (stock image)
The Mumsnet user's post about refusing to host her family for Christmas dinner after years of organising everything herself has sparked a furious debate
She complained: 'They didn't say "We will help you this year" although I've heard this before and didn't happen.
'They didn't even say "We will do it this year" and invite me.
'My parents said that's ok we will just do a steak for our Christmas dinner, my daughter said that's ok I will go to [my] partner's mum and dad's instead.
'Not sure what my sister is doing now, but [she would] still prefer to be somewhere else rather than help.
'Not sure how I'm feeling tbh but looking forward to a quiet day with my little one for sure.'
Her post drew mixed reactions, with some people confused about why she was angry with her family when 'you told them what you wanted and they agreed'.
One comment read: 'It sounds like you asked for something and got it? If you wanted too be together but not cook, you should have just told them that, ordered everything from M&S or whatever and split the cost.'
Another person wrote: 'You're saying you don't know how you feel about it, yet you got what you hoped for - a quiet Christmas.
Others were more sympathetic and agreed it was 'selfish' of the woman's family 'to never help you or host you'
'Or were you hoping they'd say "No, please don't, we'll all help!"'
Others were more sympathetic and agreed it was 'selfish' of the woman's family 'to never help you or host you'.
One such message read: 'How selfish are your family to never help you or host you.
'Your sister and adult daughter should be doing their fair share, even if your parents don't.
'The problem here is they have got away with this behaviour for years, they don't want to change, they like being waited on hand and foot.
'This should have been nipped in the bud before it started, with everyone having jobs to do, and everyone knowing what each person's job is.'
Another user said: 'I completely get it, some posters are just being difficult. After years of doing it all, it would have been great if one of them said, let's go out or come to me!
'I can see why you feel let down.'
They suggested using the money she would have spent on preparing an elaborate dinner on doing 'something nice with your child'.
'Do you know any other single parents who might want to ho for a pub lunch? Book one anyway... everyone will be happy and friendly and you might enjoy getting out,' the user continued.
Some people also advised her to spell out the reason for her disappointment and send her family members a text message or give them a call.
'It seems like you need more effective communication,' one person said. 'Explain how you'd like to spend Christmas with everyone but not be 100% responsible for the work.
'Could someone else host, could your daughter help with the meal, it's just a few hours I'm not sure how exhausting it can be?'
